Naoichi's Sky Garden PRINT FINAL1.12.indd 3 30/11/15 8:33 pm

To Jan who told me this storyV.S.C.

To Peter and Pop who taught me to gardenJ.S.W.

Naoichi's Sky Garden PRINT FINAL1.12.indd 4 30/11/15 8:33 pm

Morning sun warmed Naoichi’s shoulders. He was sitting at the breakfast table waiting for his wife, Hatsumi.

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Hatsumi came through the door hiding something behind her back. There was a smile in her eyes.

“Happy birthday!” she said.

A brightly colored package swirled from behind her back. She handed it to Naoichi.

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He tore the paper off.

“Just what I’ve been needing,” he said.

“My old tool belt is full of holes.”

“Remember,” Hatsumi said, “you’re ninety-two. A respectable age.”

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Naoichi peeled an orange in one long unbroken spiral with a sharp knife. Then he placed it on a small green plate, cut it in wedges, and handed it to Hatsumi.

“Thank you,” Hatsumi said.

She waited for Naoichi to peel another for himself before she ate her orange.

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